The Dawkins Delusion

In The God Delusion Richard Dawkins lauched a no-holds-barred attack on all types of religion. In The Dawkins Delusion Alister McGrath demonstrates some of the faults with Dawkins' book. In particular he shows how Dawkins clearly goes over the top with some of his claims, and that most religions are nothing like the stereotypes which Dawkins describes. The trouble is that that's about all there is to this book. McGrath criticises Dawkins for not being particularly scholarly in his attack, but this book is hardly a scholarly rebuttal - there's too much indignation for one thing, and what is worse there's no index

Also McGrath uses some pretty weak arguments at times, for instance the claim that Dawkins stance actually helps the Intelligent Design movement - ignoring the fact that Dawkins had dealt with this claim in his book. The Dawkins Delusion might make a good antidote for those in danger of taking Dawkins too seriously, and at times there is some reasonable argument - in particular the first half of chapter 4, looking at the evil done in the name of religion. But overall I get the feeling that a small amount of good material was quickly expanded to give a book length response to Dawkins.

World-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins writes in The God Delusion: 'If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down'. The volume has received wide coverage, fuelled much passionate debate and caused not a little confusion. Alister McGrath is ideally placed to evaluate Dawkins' ideas. Once an atheist himself, he gained a doctorate in molecular biophysics before going on to become a leading Christian theologian. He wonders how two people, who have reflected at length on substantially the same world, could possibly have come to such different conclusions about God. McGrath subjects Dawkins' critique of faith to rigorous scrutiny. His exhilarating, meticulously argued response deals with questions such as: Is faith intellectual nonsense? Are science and religion locked in a battle to the death? Can the roots of Christianity be explained away scientifically? Is Christianity simply a force for evil? This book will be warmly received by those looking for a reliable assessment of The God Delusion and the many questions it raises - including, above all, the relevance of faith and the quest for meaning.